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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sophronia on April 11, 2008, at 9:52:53
Hi folks:
Has anyone out there seen 2 therapists at the same time? I'm in a depressive crisis and my pdoc wants me to have 2 shrink appts/week. I haven't been seeing the shrink (G) that I've seen for years because in the fall things started to fall apart. I felt less and less safe with him, felt him getting defensive, I was getting ready for surgery and so took a break. When I went back it seemed like things were worse.
Well then I started getting very depressed and anxious and the pdoc has had me on a short rein--talking or seeing her daily, even if for short visits, usually a longer visit once a week. Then she suggested I see a cbt/dbt person (A)--I was fairly skeptical about it but tried to keep an open mind. Liked her. After 2nd visit decided to give her a try. Meanwhile, she called my pdoc and said maybe this wasn't the right therapy for me, it might be too much of a trigger.
I continue to get worse; we're futzing with meds and talking about a hospital visit. If I don't go into the hospital, pdoc is insisting I see a shrink 2x/week. She said, you can see G 2x/week or A 2x/week or each of them once a week--its up to you. But, she said, I need you to do that, for me to feel that you are safe.
Called G--he can't see me 2x/week--doesn't have a regular time to see me once a week. Left a message with A yesterday, haven't heard back from her.
I have a couple concerns--one the commuting to these appts takes me about an hour and that is a stress. Can't see G twice a week; not sure A will see me anymore.
Or it might be that I see each once a week--which seems crazy-making, especially with a weekly pdoc appt. Don't see how I can do all that and go to work too.
Any thoughts? Do I need to take a leave of absence from work? Do I need to go into the hospital? Do I need to find a brand new therapist closer to my home? My sense is even if I go to the hospital, I'll probably have to do something similar afterwards....
I'm a bit lost in all of this...feeling alone...and confused...and very depressed. Not in danger of hurting myself but not wanting to do ANYTHING at all...even though I can't seem to sleep.
Thanks for listening...
Sophie
Posted by Phillipa on April 11, 2008, at 12:06:59
In reply to two therapists? help..., posted by Sophronia on April 11, 2008, at 9:52:53
Do you live in an area with a lot of therapists. Souds very stressful for you all the appointments. I too know that feeling as have had three this week with different docs and endo. And I don't work on Disability. I feel for you. Love Phillipa
Posted by ClearSkies on April 11, 2008, at 14:55:06
In reply to two therapists? help..., posted by Sophronia on April 11, 2008, at 9:52:53
Hello, and nice to meet you. I'm sorry to hear that you're having a difficult time. The only time I've seen more than one therapist at a time was when I've had EMDR treatment in junction with regular therapy, but my T referred me to a peer for the EMDR as she wasn't qualified to do the treatment herself. It was a finite start-and-finish deal, and helped me a lot at the time.
It's not at all the same experience that you're speaking of. I think I would find it confusing to be getting ongoing treatment from more than one therapist at a time. Perhaps this time of crisis is an opportunity for a new therapeutic relationship for you? Or perhaps therapist (G) can suggest another route, such as telephone support or even email, in addition to a regular appointment for you - ask him for his thoughts, or even to consult with your doctor for the right solution for you.
If, on the other hand, you're not comfortable in your relationship with your therapist, then I'd ask your doctor for other referrals. It took me multiple tries to find the right fit before I found my therapist.
As for whether you should take a leave of absence from work at this time, for me it was a question of how well I was able to function. When it became impossible for me to get through the work day (without collapsing into tears many times), then I knew it was time to ask my doctor for a note, and it was no problem. Otherwise I thought that working was actually a good thing for me, in helping me to distract myself from my depression and anxiety problems.
Good luck, and take care
ClearSkies
Posted by Sophronia on April 11, 2008, at 15:21:17
In reply to Re: two therapists? help... » Sophronia, posted by ClearSkies on April 11, 2008, at 14:55:06
THanks both of you. Actually my question got answered by A--she wouldn't do work with someone who was working with someone else. And G can't see me 2x a week...so I am going to put my eggs in A's basket. After deciding that (well, really it was decided for me), I felt just a huge wave of sadness come over me at losing G. I think it is right; I think I need someone else for this season of my life but boy it feels like a really big loss right now...even tho I haven't seen him since the end of January and was scared to see him again. He has helped soooo sooo much in the past. I had made an appt with him for this Monday; I wonder if I should simply cancel it or use it to say good-bye (oh gees...talk about a lousy session but maybe it would be a good thing?) Any thoughts on that?
Sophie
Posted by ClearSkies on April 11, 2008, at 15:51:09
In reply to Re: two therapists? help..., posted by Sophronia on April 11, 2008, at 15:21:17
> THanks both of you. Actually my question got answered by A--she wouldn't do work with someone who was working with someone else. And G can't see me 2x a week...so I am going to put my eggs in A's basket. After deciding that (well, really it was decided for me), I felt just a huge wave of sadness come over me at losing G. I think it is right; I think I need someone else for this season of my life but boy it feels like a really big loss right now...even tho I haven't seen him since the end of January and was scared to see him again. He has helped soooo sooo much in the past. I had made an appt with him for this Monday; I wonder if I should simply cancel it or use it to say good-bye (oh gees...talk about a lousy session but maybe it would be a good thing?) Any thoughts on that?
>
> SophieI think I would find it too painful to have a Goodbye session - I'm a coward! and I'd also want to dive in with A as quickly as possible. Otherwise I'd be comparing A to G. But that's me.
CS
Posted by Phillipa on April 11, 2008, at 19:56:04
In reply to Re: two therapists? help..., posted by ClearSkies on April 11, 2008, at 15:51:09
Clear Skies agree with you. Love Phillipa
Posted by CareBear04 on April 11, 2008, at 20:33:16
In reply to two therapists? help..., posted by Sophronia on April 11, 2008, at 9:52:53
hi hi!
glad i could help on the hospital front.
it does sound like you're caught between a rock and a hard spot in terms of your treatment. my sense is that you should probably stick to one T, and that the person you choose should be someone you want to stick with indefinitely. you'll inevitably become closer to the T that helps you through this crisis. for this reason, maybe you should look for someone closer to you since it sounds like, both in the short and the long-term, seeing either G or A is really inconvient for you.
checking into the hospital might be a good option for you at this point. at least while you're in there, someone will be working with you to help you feel better, and they can get set up with a T on the outside. as it is now, you might experience a delay in getting established with someone new at a time when you need help the most.
but i would ask yourself what you want the hospitalization to accomplish. do you think it will help with getting you on an effective med regimen? do you expect to leave feeling better or would the purpose mainly be to get away from your day-to-day? if that's the case, like i said, sometimes getting away makes it really hard to go back to everyday life.
maybe one option to think and ask your pdoc about is a partial hospitalization program. i've never actually done one, but the inpatient teams have often recommended it. it could help you segue more gradually back to normal life after a stay in the hospital, or i think you could do a partial program even without a hospital stay. you would get everyday therapy and med management and groups while you (or the program for you) find a T for you to work with after.
anyway, i hope this helps... feel better!
cb
Posted by Phillipa on April 12, 2008, at 18:37:01
In reply to Re: two therapists? help... » Sophronia, posted by CareBear04 on April 11, 2008, at 20:33:16
Have to agree with Care Bear about getting back into the world as it's difficult. A day program is a great way to do both and the best of both worlds as long as you feel safe. Phillipa
Posted by Sophronia on April 12, 2008, at 18:47:18
In reply to Re: two therapists? help... » Sophronia, posted by CareBear04 on April 11, 2008, at 20:33:16
Well a lot of my concerns are resolved as I'm down to one therapist--so that is good. Still mulling over the hospital question--if I go I'll probably go Monday morning and stay just until Friday. I've had a bad reaction to the abilify, so I'm off that and off zyprexa too (we were lowering it as we added in Abilify and I was down to almost nothing, so decided to just take it out of the picture.)
Seeing the new therapist A 2x a week and the pdoc once a week is kind of a cobbled together "outpatient" deal, at least in my pdoc's mind. It keeps me in the part of town that is relatively easier to get to than the hospital she recommends--which is good. I just don't know.
I've had friends "babysitting" me last night, this morning, this afternoon--in shifts and now I'm on my own until tomorrow afternoon. So I guess I'll see how I do by myself. Obviously if there is any danger, I'll go straight to the hospital. My friends are advising that anyway.
Sophie.
Posted by Phillipa on April 12, 2008, at 20:36:37
In reply to Re: two therapists? help..., posted by Sophronia on April 12, 2008, at 18:47:18
Sopie should you take their advise? Do you feel safe now? Remember someone is usually on babble as different countries. Please do what is right for you. Don't take a chance. Love Phillipa
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